Tatuanui

Tatuanui is a settlement and rural community in the Matamata-Piako District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

Tatuanui
Country New Zealand
RegionWaikato
Territorial authorityMatamata-Piako District
WardMorrinsville Ward
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total1,377

It is located north-east of Morrinsville, south-west of Te Aroha, Waihou and Waitoa, and north of Ngarua, at the intersection of State Highway 26 and State Highway 27. The intersection was converted to a roundabout between June and December 2011 for safety reasons.[2]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,479—    
20131,338−1.42%
20181,377+0.58%
Source: [1]

The statistical area of Tatuanui, which at 144 square kilometres is larger than this community, had a population of 1,377 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (2.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 102 people (-6.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 477 households. There were 708 males and 669 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 35 years, with 336 people (24.4%) aged under 15 years, 276 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 609 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 156 (11.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.0% European/Pākehā, 14.6% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 3.9% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 10.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.6% had no religion, 34.2% were Christian, 0.7% were Hindu, 1.1% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 129 (12.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 237 (22.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $44,600. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 630 (60.5%) people were employed full-time, 189 (18.2%) were part-time, and 15 (1.4%) were unemployed.[1]

Dairy industry

Dairy factory

The Tatua Dairy Company factory is a central feature of the township. Tatua is an independent co-operative dairy company owned by 114 shareholder farms, all located within a 12 kilometre radius of the processing site.[3] It employs 370 staff and exports specialist dairy products to more than 60 countries.[4]

The co-operative has maintained a strong independent history within the New Zealand dairy industry. In the 2001 mega-merger for the New Zealand dairy industry which formed Fonterra, Tatua shareholders decided to remain independent. New Zealand had over 500 dairy co-operatives in the 1930s, but Tatua is the only New Zealand dairy co-operative remaining that has never been part of any merger throughout its history.[5]

Tatua often records the highest payout for milk solids to the farmer shareholders in New Zealand.[6] While the high level of payout is partly due to a small catchment area (which reduces processing costs), the high financial performance of Tatua has been attributed to its focus on value-added milk products rather than traditional, mass-produced, commodity-based milk products such as milk powder, butter and cheese.[7]

Dairy Whip can

A giant model of a can of whipped cream sits outside the factory as an landmark for the township. The 12-metre high stainless steel silo was rebranded as Tatua Dairy Whip in 2013. It was severely crumpled in 2016, but the cause of the damage remained a mystery.[8]

The model was replaced again later that year,[9] and underwent a further makeover in 2019.[10]

Farming

The area's sandy and silty soil makes it vulnerable to pugging and soil compaction.[11]

The Ministry for Primary Industries held a public meeting in the township in October 2019 following several new Waikato cases of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.[12]

Sports and facilities

The local tennis club began in 1921 and was formally incorporated in 1934.[13][14] The club caters for players as young as 6.[15]

The township has a hall available for community events.[16]

Education

Tatuanui School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[17] with a roll of 135 as of March 2020.[18] It was established in 1918 and celebrated its centenary in October 2018.[19]

The school buildings, drains and playground were built by volunteers from the local community, and caretaking activities have traditionally been done at parent working bees and by students during class time.[19]

References
  1. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Tatuanui (173700). 2018 Census place summary: Tatuanui
  2. "Tatuanui roundabout opens ahead of schedule". New Zealand Government. NZ Transport Agency. 22 December 2011.
  3. "Specialised Dairy Ingredients & Foods Leader". Tatua. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. Fox, Andrea (1 October 2019). "Tatua delivers payout cream and improved dairy earnings". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald.
  5. "Tatua's payout forecast at $7.50". Waikato Times. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Tatua payout highlights benefits of adding value - Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd". The New Zealand Herald. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  8. Tanirau, Katrina (12 July 2016). "Crumpled giant dairy whip silo talk of town in Piako". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  9. Tanirau, Katrina (29 August 2016). "Cameras keep clicking as new giant can moved into place". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  10. "Dairy Whip cream can has a new look". Rural News Group. Dairy News. 17 October 2019.
  11. Paddock, Gerald (10 January 2018). "Tatuanui farmer boxing on after a tough start to dairy season". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  12. Hope, Shermae (17 October 2019). "Waikato farmers not out of the woods yet with Mycoplasma bovis". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  13. "Tatuanui Tennis Club". sporty.co.nz. Tatuanui Tennis Club.
  14. "Tatuanui Tennis Club Inc". sportwaikato.org.nz. Sport Waikato.
  15. "Youngsters give tennis club a boost". Stuff. Waikato Times. 2 October 2015.
  16. "Tatuanui Hall". mpdc.govt.nz. Matamata-Piako District Council.
  17. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  18. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  19. Tantau, Kelly (17 October 2018). "Tatuanui School's 'Kiwi ingenuity' still evident after 100 years". Stuff. Piako Post.

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